Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Just because I've been starting each entry lately with an update on my hacking and wheezing, I just wanted to let you guys know that yes, I am still sick. I like to think that the coughs have become less frequent (do I sound like a broken record?) but I guess I deserve it since I haven't been this sick in a while. Better to cough for a month than have the flu, M I RITE?

Just because I still don't have much of the cahoots to post about actual things going on lately, here are more backlogged photos. As many of you know, I bought a Canon XSi Rebel DSLR back on Black Friday. I've had a lot of questions about it from people wanting to know the difference in quality and if it's worth it so I thought I would post some photos that are straight-from-the-camera quality. The only thing I've done is resized and added my watermark. That means no retouch, adjusting lighting, color correcting, nothing. My DSLR is set to take pics in JPEG so I'll show you what it spits out.

First up, these are test shots that I did using my Sony Cybershot T-90. It's a camera I bought last year and it's what I use to record my HD tutorial vids.

And here are the test pics:

Overall, a little cool-toned, a little washed out but not bad quality at all. The auto-detection for settings is almost always spot-on and it seems to take crisper photos than my old OLD Cybershot from 6 years ago. :P

And here, I am using my mom's black Canon XSi with her 15-55mm kit lens. (This was just before I bought my silver XSi, and I have the 50mm 1.8/f lens and the 17-85mm 4.5-6/f lens. But this kit lens is really nice! I recommend it.)

And the test pics:

Wow, can you say color? Obviously the Canon XSi has really excellent color output, even in the cooler lighting of my West-facing window. There's just something about DSLR photos that seem so much more... REAL. There's just that much more depth to each photo and more emotion behind it. Pretty magical.

Oh, and just because I know I'll get asked, I think I'm wearing NYX Fusion lipstick here, but I'm not 100% sure. These were taken when I had gotten home from a little shoot that I'll post pics of next time. I'm also doing my favorite layering-falsies trick (longer criss-cross lashes with shorter, voluminous Sugar cosmetics lashes.)

And yes, my bangs do grow crazy fast. But these pics were taken November 7th when I still had short bangs. ;D

Hi, this is irrelevant to your post, sorry jen! I know you have experience with purchasing from hautelook, does it usually take more than 10 days to arrive? I ordered the day they had the urban decay sale, and it hasn't arrived yet, a little worried. Also out of curiosity, what did you buy from that sale?

Anonymous: Yes, it takes a while to arrive from Hautelook. I think they say 10-14 business days, which is how they can get such a discounted price (they take a bulk order, then get it shipped to them from the company, then Hautelook ships it out to you.) But I still think it's worth it!

I didn't end up buying anything from the last UD sale, sadly. I thought about getting the eyebrow pencil, but I already love my Anastasia kit so I passed.

I've had a Cybershot T-50 myself (the touch screen one before the crazy T-100 or T-200 came out, I can't keep track of all those numbers. D:) and I notice that it has TERRIBLE quality during night shots and indoor (it turns yellow-ish and when I set it to high ISO, it turns grainy...), but I still adored the little guy so much. >___< Especially since it was a birthday present and specially bought since red wasn't available in the American stores...So I asked my parents for a new point and shoot for Christmas and birthday...a Samsung and I've loving the wide screen!

But thanks for the comparison! The SLR, like you said, does look a LOT more "real", Cybershots (and I some a lot of point and shoots) sometimes give the picture this sort of fog-ish, dream-like quality especially with the back light...but the SLR is simply gorgeous and you've shown us what GREAT video quality your T-90 has! :D

Congrats on your camera purchase! I bought myself the same Canon Rebel xsi (in silver too!) last month & love it! The picture quality difference from my other little point and shoot is amazing! It makes me want to go back and re-take all the pictures on my blog!

If readers are wondering, the reason little point and shoots will never match DSLRs is because of the lens size and sensor chip size. just imagine a point and shoot squeezing all that info onto a tiny sensor chip vs a big camera lens capturing the information onto a big senor chip. This is also why p&s never take good night shots or are dreamy-like. there are cameras that come between the two if you're not ready to make the dslr plunge. Also, higher megapixels do not mean better camera/photos. Sorry, I felt like I had to butt in. :)

Thanks for the post Jen! Can really tell the difference btwn both cameras. Both are actually really good quality too, and you are very pretty in your pics as always =). Wow that cough has been lingering. Hope you get well soon! *Hugs*

I always like the quality of DSLR camera, once you invest on a SLR camera there is no way of going back to those digital cameras. I have the older model the Canon Rebel XTI and love the quality it does and investing at 50mm f/1.8 II is a good lens which I highly recommend.

many years ago, before DSL or any digicam became a norm, i was shooting pictures for school newspaper with the traditional SLR. I had to tote around a lot of gadgets and it was not funny. in the end new digital stuff came along and my old GREAT equipments couldn't even be sold as no agent would buy a non digital camera... Well, they are stored in my house back home.

These days, I only bring one TINY digital camera with me as I have a backpack full of my son's stuff. There is no more room for DSL even though I'd love to own one. Maybe when my son goes to secondary school... He asks to use my compact all the time so it's really not wise to have a DSL on hand.

Your post brought back a great memory. I used to process my film myself instead of sending them to the shops. Younger generations are a lot luckier!

Hi Jen! I love DSLR pics too but I find it so heavy to take pictures of myself... so I opt for the point and shoot at times.And sorry to hear about your cough! I'm having a bad cough too, so far it's been two weeks since I've had it. I went to the doctor today but he said it's not bronchitis and it's nearing the end. Hopefully we both get rid of our coughs. Feel better!

SWEET BLOG POST! I love the comparison, you gorgeous in both but the colors are definitely more vivid with the DSLR. I have such a hard time using the DSLR to take pictures of my face! It's so hard, I think I need to work on my arm just to lift the camera with one hand lol

WOW! I can really see a difference! I personally like the Canon. The color is vibrant and very clear as to the Sony which looks like the colors are not so vibrant and sort of "fuzzy"? Anyhow- I truly enjoy your blog and YT vids! Keep up your great work, Jen!

I was just about to ask what lipstick you're wearing. Good thing I read through the whole thing! (It always cracks me up when people ask me questions that are already answered in my post. LOL!)

The last couple photographs of you look amazing! They all do, but I think your skin tone looks great! Our camera really washes me out from a distance, but not up close. I look paler than my Irish husband in pictures! LOL!

Ann: The price + shipping depends on which country it is shipping to. Continental US orders are $17.50 shipped. I accept paypal with fee (calculated at http://www.rolbe.com/paypal.htm ) or you have the option to pay with well-concealed USD. Paypal is obviously safer and faster. ;) Send me an e-mail at frmheadtotoe@gmail.com if you are interested.

thank you very much for this post jen, i don't really know which camera i should buy, there are a lot and that's very difficult to choose when you don't really know them^^by the way, i'm having a jewelry giveaway, if you are interested i invit you to take part :)